Cafe du Soleil

The room is a little loud and they could add one or two more items to the menu, a little more variety would help -- but the food is excellent and the service is good enough. It is the upper west side, after all.

We ate recently two nights in a row and were not disappointed either time. The first night we had their pre-theater special three course dinner, an excellent value. The second night we ate a la carte and although the restaurant was full and humming with activity, the waitstaff were very attentive but not pushy. The food was fantastic. My only gripe: leave the lighting level at least so that we can read the menu! We'll be back!

Cafe du Soleil's food is fantastic and the service of several waiters is extremely professional and warm. This restaurant is what every neighborhood needs but so few have in NYC. The sauteed wild mushroom appetizer is excellent with just the right amount of garlic, parsley and oil. The rack of lamb entree is perfectly roasted and wonderfully seasoned. The Atlantic salmon is also noteworthy, tender and very tasty with a heavenly light lemon sauce that perfectly compliments the slightly crusted broiled salmon . This restaurant is clearly a winner and should do well. This is a place for people who love great food and the ambiance of Paris or the south of France.

Service is poor, but there was something endearing about our waiter, who apologized for it and got us everything we requested--just not WHEN we wanted it. We went for brunch around 1:30 and noticed that the crowd lessened significantly around 2:30. So maybe the best time for brunch is before 12 noon and after 2:30. However, just the fact that our waiter acknowledged the poor service and thanked us for our patience made a difference. You don't get that often.

Food is very good at times, okay at others. A bit pricey for neighborhood, but reflects constant shift upwards in menu pricing rather than the value. Which, by the way, is good. Service can be annoying. We've had one or two good waiters, but usually they're inattentive, can't get water or milk for my son delivered with any speed. (Here's some advice for restaurateur, when people come in with young kids, make sure the kids are taken care of well and RIGHT AWAY. You will have happy, and tip happy, customers, regardless of whatever else happens!) And they generally seem annoyed to be dealing with you, as though they are waiting for the correct customers to arrive. And the host/hostesses are out of context with an, if truth be told, upper west side, partly family-oriented restaurant. But I'll go back.

#1-the appetizers and main courses are terrific but the assortment of sorbets and ice creams had no identifiable flavor at all. We tried vanilla bean, coconut and olive oil, not shy flavors, but we couldn't tell one from the other. It's a charming place but given the poor service, I wouldn't be inclined to go back. Just as we were trying to read the menu, the lights were dramatically lowered and we couldn't read a thing. The waiter (who was actually delightful personally) told us there was nothing he could do. Someone else brought us a large candle. But if management is determined to do what it wants with no regard to the guest, I would say that Cafe de Soleil isn't long for this world.

This place is chilled out, a bargain for the high quality food, ample wine list, and relaxed, service. I thought the service was good each time I've been there-- unpretentious and sociable. It's a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Also, good, attractive lighting.